HomeMy Public PortalAbout2023-76 Establishing the Village's 2024 Legislative PrioritiesRESOLUTION NO. 2023-76
A RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE
VILLAGE OF KEY BISCAYNE, FLORIDA, ESTABLISHING
THE VILLAGE'S 2024 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES; AND
PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the Village of Key Biscayne (the "Village") Council desires to establish the
policies and appropriations set forth in Exhibit "A," attached hereto as the Village's 2024
legislative priorities; and
WHEREAS, the Village Council finds that this Resolution is in the best interest and
welfare of the Village and its residents.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE
VILLAGE OF KEY BISCAYNE, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Recitals. That the above recitals are true and correct and incorporated
herein by this reference.
Section 2. Establishing Legislative Priorities. That the Village Council hereby
establishes the policies and appropriations set forth in Exhibit "A" attached hereto as the Village's
2024 legislative priorities.
Section 3. Effective Date. That this Resolution shall take effect immediately upon
adoption.
PASSED and ADOPTED this _14th_ day of November , 2023.
JOE I. RASCO, MAYOR
ATTEST:
JO~t.wD ~ocl-,
VILLAGE CLERK
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGAL SUFFICIENCY:
WE ISS SEROTA HELFMAN COLE & BIERMAN , P.L.
VILLAGE ATTORN EY
EXHIBIT A
VILLAGE OF KEY BISCAYNE 2024 LEGISLATIVE PRI ORI TIES
The following policies and appropriations are established as the Village of Key Biscayne's 2024
Legislative Priorities:
POLICIES
1. The Village supports the broad exercise of home rule powers granted to municipalities
under the Florida Constitution and supports consistency in the Legislature with the
provisions of Section 166.021, Florida Statutes.
2. The Village supports legislation providing for administrative procedures and required
intergovernm ental cooperation and planning (including mitigation planning) as a condition
to local governm ent land development approvals, and an appeal process, for proposed
developments or comm ercial events projected or likely to cause traffic, public safety,
nuisance, or other impacts affecting areas outside the jurisdiction of the permitting
governm ent.
3. The Village supports legislation that provides financial incentives including financing and
funding for storm hardening projects such as relocating power lines and other utilities
underground on barrier islands and supporting the Public Service Commission.
Specifically, the Village has added its utility undergrounding project to the Miami-Dade
County Local Mitigation Strategy, and the Village supports any legislative or other efforts
to prioritize its projects for State or Federal funding.
4. The Village supports legislation that provides financial incentives for beach renourishm ent
and shoreline protection on barrier islands. Additionally, the Village seeks modification to
the criteria used by the Department of Environm ental Protection (DEP) in determining and
assigning annual funding priorities by incorporating beach access and parking availability
of adjacent state and local parks, recognizing different transportation modalities (buses, on
demand vehicles, multi-mobility devices), and supporting creative solutions to beach
erosion such as breakwaters. The Village will also promote legislative efforts to enhance
cooperation and communications between federal, state, and local regulatory agencies so
that projects relating to beach renourishm ent and shoreline protection can be conducted
with minimal delays and obstacles. The Village supports grants and legislative line-item
funding for renourishment of Village beaches and shoreline protection measures.
5. The Village will monitor legislative issues and direct their legislative consultant to monitor
the following issues and provide timely data should these issues be taken up at the
legislative session:
a. Resources, policy changes and permitting support for sea-level rise initiatives such
as coastline protection and beach renourishm ent programs and related water
programs.
88 West Mcl ntyre Street • Key Biscayne, Florida .13149 • (30.5) 36.5-.5.511 • www.keybiscayne.fl.gov
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b. Any reduction to municipal revenue sources from State Revenue Sharing,
Communications Services Act, Business Tax Receipts, or other similar funding
sources.
c. Resources, policy changes and permitting support for water quality initiatives,
specifically those related to Biscayne Bay.
d. Any statute, policy, or regulation changes that affect property insurance costs or
access to insurance in coastal regions.
e. Any statute, policy, or regulation changes that affect Condominium Associations
governance, operations or financial requirements.
6. The Village supports legislative efforts aimed at improvement of water quality in public
waters such as legislation related to water treatment, discharge, testing, or other regulation
that impacts water quality on public beaches. The Village is particularly interested in those
efforts that relate to waters in the South Florida region.
7. The Village supports legislation that provides financial incentives including financing and
funding for the development of sustainable practices to dispose of, process, or recycle
sargassum seaweed.
8. The Village supports legislative and policy efforts promoted by the Florida League of Cities
and the Miami-Dade County League of Cities that support our goals of a safe and secure
village; a thriving & vibrant community and local marketplace; engaging and active
programs and public spaces; an accessible, connected and mobile transportation network;
a resilient and sustainable environm ent and infrastructure; and providing effective &
efficient government services.
9. The Village desires to lead and form a strong alliance with other coastal communities to
prioritize the hardening and undergrounding of utility infrastructure by electric utilities.
Towards that end, the Village specifically supports working with the representatives of
coastal communities to change the criteria for the hardening and undergrounding of utility
infrastructure by the electric utilities under the Public Service Act to prioritize
undergrounding and hardening of utility infrastructure within the Village and other coastal
communities.
10. The Village continues to pursue and support the enactment of legislation that will enable
municipalities to implement regulations relating to electric bicycles, electric scooters, and
other micro-mobility devices.
11. The Village supports the legislative initiatives of Miami-Dade County Public Schools,
especially efforts that address issues relating to recruitment of teachers and cost
differentials.
88 West Mcl ntyre Street • Key Biscayne, Florida 33149 • (305) 365-5511 • www.keybiscayne.fl.gov
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FY24-25 STATE APPR O PRI ATIO N S REQ UEST
1. Key Biscayne K-8 Community School Resilient Infrastructure Construction:
e Description and Justification: Request supports the initial phase of a village wide project to
upgrade the stormwater system, improve roadways, and underground electrical and
telecommunication utilities in vicinity of the Key Biscayne K-8 Community School to
reduce flooding, improve road safety and school access, and enhance utility resilience and
reliability.
• Cost and Local Match: Initial project phase cost is $2,000,000. Village requests $1,000,000
from the State and commits $1,000,000 in local match from multiple internal sources.
• Impact if Not Funded: Without funding support, the area neighboring our local K-8
Community School will continue to suffer from significant flooding posing a safety hazard
to our children and frequent limited access for parents, buses, teachers and emergency
vehicles. Over time, the flooding will increase and eventually cause substantial damage to
adjacent properties and buildings. In addition, the area's electrical and telecommunication
utilities will remain vulnerable to the high winds and harsh environment of our barrier
island.
2. Crandon Blvd Trame Predictive Analysis:
• Description and Justification: The analysis and the installation of traffic sensors will provide
critical data for the Village to better predict and address the extensive traffic on its roadways
and Rickenbacker Causeway, its only access/evacuation route. Along the causeway and on
Key Biscayne, there are many venues that attract a substantial number of visitors throughout
the year. The attractions lead to heavy traffic causing congestion and a limited ability for
emergency vehicles to traverse the roadways. Of the biggest draws is B1ll Baggs State Park,
one of the State's most visited parks. The only access road to the park is along Crandon
Blvd, the main road through the Village. The State Park Manager frequently requests the
Village's Police Department to provide traffic control into and out of the park at peak hours.
The analysis' results will help both the Village and the Park to find traffic infrastructure
solutions, better communicate traffic complications to our residents and visitors, and enable
our Police Department to better coordinate traffic control.
• Cost and Local Match: Estimated project cost is $275,000. Village requests $275,000 from
the State and commits to continuing to provide overtime in-kind traffic control support along
Rickenbacker Causeway and in Crandon Park at an approximate cost of $105,000 per year .
., Impact if Not Funded: Without assistance and the resulting analysis, the Village will
continue to face unbearable traffic along its main street and on its only access roadway.
Moreover, the Village will not be able to properly find solutions to address the traffic
problems, communicate congestion, or be able to move emergency vehicles into and out of
the village during periods of high traffic. The traffic also negatively affects our local
economy, making the parks and village less attractive to visit because of the increasing
traffic delays. The Key Biscayne beaches have become a less expensive alternative to
Miami Beach for the 2.8 million residents of Miami-Dade County. Without the free flow of
safe traffic, these residents will lose out on an integral recreational component of their
quality of life.
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3. Im prove M ulti-M odal Traffi c M obili ty and Safety along Crandon Bl vd:
Description and Justification: Request reinforces the Village's investment in improving
intersections, traffic signalization, and crosswalks along Crandon Blvd to provide for safer
traffic flow for vehicles, bicycles, motorized scooters, electric bicycles, and pedestrians.
e Cost and Local Match: Total project cost is $850,000. Village requests $425,000 from the
State and commits $425,000 in local match.
9 Impact if Not Funded: The Crandon Blvd corridor will continue to fail to adequately move
vehicles through its multiple intersections and remain a significant safety hazard for
pedestrians, bicycles, and micro-mobility devices. With traffic worsening, our residents
are having difficulty traveling to work, our commercial district, our community facilities,
and schools. Our commercial enterprises are losing business and visitors are finding it less
appealing to visit one of the most popular State Parks, located at the far end of the village.
4. Senior Programming:
Description and Justification: Request supports Village's senior program to improve the
quality of life for our adults 60 years of age and older by offering recreational, social and
educational activities; and by providing support services and resources, including direct
assistance for those with physical and cognitive impairments.
c Cost and Local Match: Total project cost is $220,000. Village requests $125,000 from the
State and commits $95,000 in local match.
" Impact if Not Funded: Our senior programming is the centerpiece for 20% or about 3,000
members of our population. The program is a gateway for our aging community to provide
opportunities for our seniors to stay safe, active and healthy. Without the funding, instead
of being proactive in supporting this large segment of our residents, we would be forced to
provide more reactive services, such as emergency services, food programs, and mental
health support. Studies and our own programs have shown that active senior activities
lower levels of depression, create supportive friendships, lower stress levels, delay the
onset of chronic illnesses, and provide numerous social and health benefits.
5. Special Needs Programming:
• Description and Justification: Request reinforces the Village's fledgling program to
improve the quality of life for our special needs populations by offering more adaptive and
inclusive recreational, education and social activities.
Cost and Local Match: Total project cost is $150,000. Village requests $100,000 from the
State and commits $50,000 in local match.
a> Impact if Not Funded: Without funding, the Village's program launched a year ago will
move forward only partially supported. Considerable time and funding were invested in
starting our special needs program last year. We developed the initial partnerships,
conducted the necessary staff training, and began to integrate special needs considerations
into our community programming. Without a more robust and sustained program, we will
not be able to meet our residents' needs, forcing them to travel long distances off-island or
88 West McIntyre Street • Key Biscayne, Florida 33149 ° (305) 365-SS 11 • www.keybiscayne.fl.gov
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leaving them unable to get the needed suppor t. W ith the increase in the village's special
needs population this will have an adverse effect on the wellbeing of m any of our residents.
6. Emergency Management Planning, Training and Exercise for 2024 Hurricane Season:
4) Description and Justification: Request supports the Village's emergency management
program to update our Emergency Management Response Plan, perform advanced NIMS
training, and conduct an integrated exercise for evacuation and re-entry. Because of the
Village's vulnerabilities of being on a low-lying barrier island with one access road in and
out, we deliberately reevaluate and revise our hurricane response program every three years.
• Cost and Local Match: Total project cost is $350,000. Village requests $250,000 from the
State and commits $100,000 in local match.
a Impact if Not Funded: Without the supporting funding, the Village will not be able to
adequately perform our triennial plan review to incorporate the lessons learned from the
most recent hurricane disasters in Florida. Hurricane Ian's impact on Sanibel Island is of
particular concern since we have similar geography, demography and vulnerabilities. With
personnel turnover, new equipment and technology, and updated best practices, our plans
have become outdated, and the staff has lost significant institutional knowledge resulting in
a degradation in emergency response capability.
7. Continuation of lFDElVPs Sargassum Reimbursement Grant Program:
• Description and Justification: Request a continuation of FDEM's $5 million Sargassum
Reimbursement Grant to assist in the removal and disposal of nuisance sargassum and
seaweed from our public beach.
e Cost and Local Match: Village spends approximately $900,000 a year to remove and
dispose of sargassum. Village anticipates requesting grant support of $450,000 while
committing $450,000 in local match.
Impact if Not Funded: The large amount of sargassum and seaweed landing on the village's
shoreline poses an increasing public health, environmental and economic hazard. In
addition, the disposal of the sargassum continues to be an unnecessary waste entering South
Florida's already overburdened landfills while the funding for the rising removal and
disposal costs could be better invested in natural shoreline protection solutions to help
mitigate damage from future storms.
88 West Mcl ntyre Street • Key Biscayne, Florida 33149 • (30.5) 365-5511 • www.keybiscayne.fl.gov
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